A8-3820 vs Core i5-3437U
A8-3820
Core i5-3437U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The A8-3820 is positioned at rank 1032 and the Core i5-3437U is on rank 164, so the Core i5-3437U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A8-3820
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3437U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A8-3820 | Core i5-3437U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A8-3820 | Core i5-3437U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of A8-3820 and Core i5-3437U
A8-3820
The A8-3820 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,178 points. Launch price was $90.
Core i5-3437U
The Core i5-3437U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,166 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The A8-3820 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-3437U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3820 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the A8-3820 versus 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-3437U — a 3.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-3437U (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The A8-3820 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-3437U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A8-3820 scores 2,178 against the Core i5-3437U's 2,166 — a 0.6% lead for the A8-3820. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 354 vs 440, a 21.7% lead for the Core i5-3437U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A8-3820 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3437U.
| Feature | A8-3820 | Core i5-3437U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 2.9 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+32% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,178 | 2,166 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 354 | 440+24% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,080 |
Memory & Platform
The A8-3820 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-3437U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (A8-3820) vs 16 (Core i5-3437U) — the A8-3820 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75 (A8-3820) and QM77,QS77 (Core i5-3437U).
| Feature | A8-3820 | Core i5-3437U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+25% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A8-3820) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3437U). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 6550D (A8-3820) and Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i5-3437U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3820 targets Budget Desktop, Core i5-3437U targets Business Ultrabook. Direct competitor: A8-3820 rivals Core i3-2120; Core i5-3437U rivals AMD A8-4555M.
| Feature | A8-3820 | Core i5-3437U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6550D | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Business Ultrabook |
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